Roundup: Rough start for freshman QB dooms OCA

Saturday

Sep 2, 2017 at 12:17 AMSep 2, 2017 at 12:19 AM

Staff report

At Ocala Christian Academy, the host Crusaders were able to beat the bad weather, but lost 40-6 to Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic. OCA (0-2) started strong, forcing SFC to punt on its first possession, and then recovering a muffed punt after going three-and-out on its own first possession, but offensive line and quarterbacking woes doomed the Crusaders.

OCA coach Dale Jackson opted to go with Colton Bloom at quarterback, a freshman making his first career start.

“He’s a true quarterback. Real natural thrower, picks up things quick,” Jackson said of Bloom. “(And) it let’s us move Quan (Dixon) back to where he’s more comfortable (at wide receiver).”

With a slick ball from the consistent light rain, Bloom struggled mightily, finishing 2-of-11 with two interceptions.

OCA fell behind after muffing a punt of its own and setting SFC (2-0) up at the Crusaders’ 17-yard line. A few plays later, the Hawks jumped out to an 8-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession’s first play, the Crusaders fumbled and the Hawks scooped and scored from 55 yards out to go up 15-0.

The Crusaders were able to pick up a first down on their next possession after a 17-yard run by CJ Williams, but were forced to punt again. The snap came in low and OCA had to eat it at its own 20, where on the next play SFC threw for a score to make it 21-0.

OCA forced a turnover of its own on the next defensive possession, blocking a punt to set up a first and goal from the Hawks’ 1. Three plays later Williams burst through the middle to put OCA on the board.

In the second half, Santa Fe extended its lead, but the Crusaders, down 27-6, had a chance after a strip sack gave them the ball at the SFC 42. Dixon re-entered the game at QB and nearly threw a pick on his lone attempt. On the very next play, a wide-receiver pass by Justin Stephan was picked.

OCA held tough on the ensuing drive, forcing a fumble that Jerry Jones emerged from the bottom of a scrum with to give the Crusaders the ball back at their own 2. Bloom, back in at QB, threw a duck for a pick-six to Keyshawn Covington to give SFC a commanding 34-6 lead.

On the very next offensive play, Bloom dumped a ball over the middle, where it bounced off his receiver’s hands and into the gut of Covington, who again returned it for six.

Jackson said that despite the rough start, Bloom will remain the quarterback next week at Merritt Island Christian.

“You didn’t get a chance to see it, but he’s got a great arm,” Jackson said. “He got a little rattled … His attitude is great, he’ll work at getting better.”

After an injury delay, SFC faked the extra point and attempted a two-point conversion already up 40-6, but failed.

After the game, OCA coaches talked to their players about being disrespected by their opponents. Calling for the team to rally around each other and step up.

WEST PORT 28, CRYSTAL RIVER 0: At Crystal River, quarterback Brian Maurer found Travis Isaac for two touchdowns, as the Wolf Pack shut out the Pirates on the road to earn their first win of the season.

WPHS jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Maurer and Isaac first connected on a 35-yard TD pass in the first half to give the Wolf Pack a 21-0 lead at the time.